Search is on for Northern Ireland's finest up-and-coming business brains

Pictured at the launch of the FSB/Colleges NI Future Students of Business awards are (left to right): Colleges NI Chief Executive, Gerry Campbell, FSB Regional Chair, John Friel, last year's overall winner, Iain Lee, and the Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry MLA.

Northern Ireland‟s finest emerging entrepreneurs and business brains are being invited to showcase their talents at the annual FSB/Colleges NI Future Students of Business Awards this October.

The prestigious competition, which is now in its eighth year, celebrates the cream of budding business talent from Northern Ireland's six regional Colleges and offers them an unrivalled platform to develop their skills and have them recognised by their peers and the public.

Speaking at the launch of the awards, Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry MLA, said:

"I welcome the search to find Northern Ireland's Future Students of Business Award winners."

"Northern Ireland needs to grow its economy and therefore needs to support entrepreneurs to enable us to secure this growth and become more competitive."

"This annual awards event is a great opportunity for further education students to gain recognition for their business skills and develop their potential to become a future business success in Northern Ireland."

The Minister was joined by last year's overall winner, Iain Lee, FSB Regional Chair, John Friel, and Colleges NI Chief Executive, Gerry Campbell.

Last year's overall winner, Iain Lee, said:
"I would recommend the Colleges NI network to anyone starting out in business or wishing to further their career prospects. They are willing to help with everything and anything.

"I look forward to using all the benefits that FSB membership has to offer. They are the UK's leading business organisation for a reason and have just launched the 'Real-Life Entrepreneurs' campaign to help the self-employed, and all those who run their own business.

"It is almost a year now since I was fortunate enough to win the FSB prize. The manufacture of fishing lures is very labour intensive and time consuming.

"2012 will be a challenging year for Premier Lure Company as we move to new ways of generating income. We had a problem last year when our main supplier went out of business. This has been turned to our advantage as there is now an opening in the wholesale market for raw materials."

John Friel, FSB Regional Chair said:
"The FSB is delighted to once again recognise and reward the best promising business entrepreneurs Northern Ireland has to offer."

"Year on year we have been overwhelmed by the wealth of talent eager to enter this competition and we never cease to be encouraged by the volume and broad range of entries received."

"Through our work with Colleges NI we provide college students with the ideal platform for progression into a business related discipline or the opportunity to run their own small business in the future."

"Our involvement with these awards leaves us with no doubt that it is here in these colleges that we will find and nurture many of the entrepreneurs of tomorrow."

"The FSB will continue to ensure our business and political leaders are fully aware of this important link between the economy and further education and will encourage them to invest in the economic future of Northern Ireland and fully realise the value of the Colleges here, the courses they provide and their positive contribution to the economy and world of business."

Colleges NI Chief Executive, Gerry Campbell concluded:
"There is growing recognition of the fantastic talent that is coming through our regional colleges. I am confident that many of Colleges NI's graduates will go on to become the business leaders of tomorrow.

"Colleges NI are delighted to work with the Federation of Small Businesses. We know that support for our SMEs is essential as we work our way out of recession and the FSB‟s investment in Northern Ireland‟s students and support for the colleges is an investment in the future of Northern Ireland.

"Our colleges are delivering high quality learning opportunities and skills that are vital to the future if Northern Ireland plc."